Government and nonprofit organizations tackling homelessness in the Sisters area are hosting a gathering Sunday to share strategies and gather input from the community.

The conversation on homelessness will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. at the new Sisters Elementary School, located at 2155 W McKinney Butte Road in Sisters.

Hosting agencies include Sisters Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service, Sisters School District, city of Sisters, Sisters Park & Recreation District, Sisters Public Library, Sisters Camp Sherman Fire District, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Deschutes County Behavioral Health, Sisters Community Leadership Initiative and Sisters Cold Weather Shelter.

This will be the first gathering of its kind in Sisters, said city manager Jordan Wheeler. The discussion comes about a year after controversy ensued in the town of 3,000 people over the proposed purchase of a building as the permanent location for an emergency cold weather shelter on the north side of town, which was ultimately denied by the city council.

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Wheeler said providers will detail at the meeting their efforts to combat homelessness. Specific proposals for shelters this winter haven’t yet been submitted.

Wheeler said the conversation is meant to touch on all subjects related to homelessness, not just shelter.

“We really just want to hear their questions their concerns their ideas, their hopes, really anything to help build a community supported action plan,” he said.